The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-06-08

y
through the trees there, at the right,
do you see that magnificent building
with its four galleries running around
the four first-stories of the house? Its
gate tells in golden letters that this is
children's home, given by Margaret,
where to the end of time orphans will
be cared for and educated by her be-
quests. Many of our cemeteries con-
tain, in form of handsome tombs, Mar
garets simple yet munifcent thought
fulness. Here, you know, all are buried
above ground in crypts or ovens of
masonry; and when you visit our ceme-
teries-as strangers always do, for
there are no burial-places like these in
America-you will see stone tombs (con-
tanning a dozen, two or four dozen
bodies, maybe) inscribed: 90 Given to
the Little Sisters of the Poor by Mar
garrett" " The Strangers Tomb, given
by Margaret" For the Aged, given
by Margaret" l suppose Margaret
spent more money for the city than the
riches. man in the history of the state;
and of her sympathy and discernment
of the needs of the poor, the half could
never be told. She spent nothing on
herself. A clean, blue calico, stout
shoes, black straw bonnet, knitted
jacket or shoulder-shawl; an iron bed
stead in a room without even a rocking
chair, and overlooking the bake-shop.
She had no time to enjoy luxuries, even
had she possessed them. AS long as there
was a weeping child or a friendless
woman in the city, what time had she to
fold her arms in rockingham? While
there were unburied, coffinless forms,
could she adorn her home of the living?
And so it happened that to the end of
life Margaret spent neither time, care
nor money on herself. She forgot
there was such mortal as Margaret.
" And when, one day, the news went
around that Margaret was dead, the
great city arose and put on mourning;
the business houses were closed all
the employments of the city stood STILL
The day of burial thousands of her
little orphans followed her bier as
mourners; every church sent delega-
tons of honor-bearers: the public
school children joined in the throng;
the houses were draped along the line
of march; all the bells in the city tolled;
civic and military joined in the pro-
cession with ecclesiastics; there never
was here a funeral like Margaret's.
Afterwards it was found that her
possessions had been so disposed that
had death come at any moment the
affairs of this life were we'll and in
telligently wound up. There were no
personal effects of value, but even her
few garments she left to the poor, and
with the proceeds of her wise invest
ments her charities are royalty endowed.
"This statue is the gift of the city,
to show in this public way the esteem
,..l. Il -, Ill Il
Margaret. The motherly figure, seated
with one arm encircling a standing
child at her side; the untrimmed dress,
coarse shoes, the little crocheted shawl
about her shoulders are homely, but
who would change them for finer cloth
ing? The smooth hair, with its old
fashioned French parting; the strong
chin, the pleasant mouth, the serious
eyes-is there not something fascinating
in the contradictions of the face?
Did you ever see such head on
woman's shoulders? Massive, wonder
full. That is the head of statesman
and financier, while the mouth, with its
natural suavity of Margaret's character,
proclaim the elements of born dip
Tomato. Yet look again at the broad,
.
ing eye that speaks of pure woman
) hood; look once more at the coarse
garments and you will see that poverty
added her load to the ordinary burden
! of womanhood, while ignorance, be-
reavement, affection, loneliness join
/, hands with poverty against this soul.
,, But the massive brow conquered; the
untaught brain triumphed, and under
the leadership of the sad, gentle eyes,
q, gave to the suffering what might, had
She been man, born in other circum-
y stances, have been the gain of nations
J. and the glitter of the trappings of
, diplomatic.
: ''When consider what Margaret did
= for one city, under such desperate dis
= advantages, wonder what she could
|, have done for the world if all the envi-
!, ronments had been right. | was think
ing of that as | looked, in passing for
, the hundredth time, at the strong, fas-
, cinating face this morning when your
question met my ear.
: s. Yes, it looks like her, and there
= will never be another face in marble
= like it to the end of time. She was
grand handkerchief, strong, orig
;, inal, pitiful, helpful, wise.
! "We have yet some wonderful
! women in New Orleans. Every charity
that you can mention is endowed or
, supported by the ladies of the state.
: Our Woman's Exchange employment
! bureaus, Home for Working-women,
- libraries, homes for aged, hospitals and
= infrmaries are all the gifts of women's
! money. Every public enterprise for
- years has been controlled by women,
. or failed. Even at our exposition the
. citizens had to call on the ladies to help
y them out of their financial straits, and
:, the women raised money by entertain
ments and all devices to pay off the
., fund
= We have here among women some
=. of the best financers of the city. 1t
- is getting to be an ambition of women
=. to have some independent standing
- executive, financial or charitable. The
:, social pre-eminence is threadbare. We
- !, vet boast of our old blood and the social
:, prerogatives of our families maybe a
y good deal, but something more than
. that is necessary to give distinction. A
Y lady who has achieved any work her
" self is counted a clear gain to the COM